I have fond memories of the story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I vividly recall a teacher, Mr. Mathias, reading a version to my year 6 class back in the 80s as we were studying Arthurian legends.
The tale itself is an intriguing one, set in Arthurian legend times. On Christmas Day, the Green Knight, a creature made of wood, plants and nature, arrives and sets a challenge, for one of the knights to lay a blow and to receive the same blow a year later. Gawain, foolish in his youth, lops off the creatures head and finds to his astonishment that the creature lives, retrieves his head and restates the challenge to be complete one year hence. And so Gawain must travel far and wide to find his way to the Green Chapel to receive a reciprocal blow.
Wow, what a tale! At the time I remember being enthralled and the art in the book was stunning, as was the Loathely Lady follow up book by the same author, Selina Hastings and artist, Juan Wijingaard.
This book is one of my favourites and is an excellent interpretation of the legend.
When I heard there was a film adaptation I was excited as it’s the quintessential Heroes Journey. However, I'd heard that this version was a deeply meditative film rather than a swords and sandals epic like the Harryhausen films of old or the scale and grandeur of Lord of the Rings. Due to this I think some people were disappointed as they were expecting more action but when I heard that it starred Dev Patel in the main role as Gawain I was intrigued as he is a brilliant actor who is very nuanced and powerful in the roles he plays. Also, being a fan of a lot of art house and European cinema I went in knowing that it would be a slower paced film and so it proved. Patel portrays a deeply flawed yet human Gawain who feels the pressure to achieve as he is the nephew of the great King Arthur. The problem is he doesn’t act or speak in a knightly way, foregoing the Code of Chivalry each of King Arthur's Knights swore which included lofty ideals such as: protecting the weak and defenseless, obeying those placed in authority, and always speaking the truth, bravery, courtesy, honour and great gallantry toward women.
After watching the film I had a strange sense of nostalgia, even though it was a brand new film. After a few days ruminating upon it I think I have an idea of what the feeling was; it reminded me of late 90s/ early 2000s Bravo Channel. Please, bare with me on this aside. The channel would air some curious cult film that had deeply ethereal feels and long moments of quiet where the gorgeous scenery and silence would wash over you, often they were the more salacious films of 60s and 70s European cinema, often in the horror genre but not always. Don't get me wrong, this is not a cheaply made or looking film, or salacious at all, but it feels so experimental yet deliberate. This film looks absolutely beautiful and is well watching on that basis alone, however the story is intriguing and the ending is something special. I just can't describe the feeling but the film is kind of Lynchian in the feeling of unease it create.
The film is sumptuously shot.
Anyways, I loved the film and I think its one of the finest pieces of cinema I've seen for many years. It's not for everyone but then it doesn’t need to be; it fills that niche arthouse cinema so well without trying. I do hope people will give it a chance and it finds it’s rightful place as an all-time classic
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